A big controversy has arisen regarding World Cup tickets.
Medianews.az reports that some fans who bought the most expensive tickets have discovered that they will not be able to sit in the seats they expected. This situation has led to increased criticism of FIFA even before the tournament started.
A huge tournament holding 104 matches in Canada, Mexico, and the USA has sold more than three million tickets so far. However, when the process of converting the tickets into seat numbers began, fans were met with a great shock.
Tickets were sold in four different price categories, and it was expected that those who paid the most, the 1st category holders, would sit in the most prestigious places in the stadium (lower middle sections of the stands or premium level). However, a completely different situation arose.
According to information shared by "The Athletic" and fan complaints, the scandal is quite serious. A category change occurred; many fans who paid high amounts for the 1st category were initially placed by the system in cheaper 2nd category areas. Some of these fans, who should have had the best view in the stadium, were given places near a corner flag or behind a goal.
Existing maps show that the most central and lower parts of the stadiums are not allocated to fans but reserved for VIP guests and sponsors.
One fan expressed his disappointment with these words: "Many people feel cheated and disappointed. You can't change the rules after sales have started. People were paying that money to sit in a specific place, but when the seats were assigned, they saw that everything had changed."
In response to growing reactions, FIFA defended the shared stadium maps by claiming that they are not a definitive commitment: "These maps are not the final seating arrangement; they are a guideline designed to help fans understand the general coverage of the categories."
FIFA's defense has not been enough to calm the angry crowd. Numerous complaints have been received via the official portal, and it is reported that a group of fans is preparing to file a collective lawsuit.//Publika.az